Anti-Gay Stalker Ordered to Pay $4.5M to Gay Man

Chris Armstrong was the openly gay student body
president of University of Michigan when
he became the target of a deranged cyber bully

Well, this is an interesting development! You may recall a few years ago there was an Assistant Attorney General of Michigan named Andrew Shirvell was discovered to be basically cyber-stalking and bullying the openly gay student body president of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Shirvell made increasingly bizarre appearances in the media defending his right of free speech and repeatedly spouting homophobic and just plain weird statements about Armstrong. Eventually, the Attorney General of Michigan fired the psycho after it was revealed Shirvell had stood outside Armstrong's residence at 1:30am yelling insults.

The gay guy who was harassed is Chris Armstrong and after he graduated he filed a federal lawsuit against Shirvell asking for $25,000 indamages (or an apology). Shirvell rejected the offer. Yesterday, a federal jury ruled that Shirvell should pay $4.5 million dollars for his actions against Armstrong.

Here's how the Detroit Free Press covered the result:

Andrew Shirvell, a 2002 U-M graduate, drew national attention for his blog, which he published in 2010, attacking then-U-M student body president Chris Armstrong.The blog -- the "Chris Armstrong Watch" -- was filled with posts from Shirvell, including ones calling Armstrong, the first openly gay student body president at U-M, "Satan's representative on the student assembly" and a "privileged pervert." 

"It's not just a victory for me, but for so many others," Armstrong said Thursday. "I think of all of the people who are bullied outside of a strong supportive environment like I had at (U-M). I think it's a strong statement about what will be tolerated."Armstrong sued in 2011, alleging Shirvell defamed him, invaded his privacy and stalked him. 

The two fought viciously in court for more than a year before a weeklong trial began last week. The jury got the case late Wednesday and deliberated for most of the day Thursday. 

Armstrong, who graduated in 2011, won on all counts and was awarded $4.5 million, Armstrong's attorney, Deborah Gordon, told the Free Press.

Oh good grief! The guy represented himself in his defense. Hasn't ever heard that a lawyer who represents himself ha s a fool for a client?

Anyway, I hope other homophobic freaks view this ruling as a warning to "check themselves before they wreck themselves!"

Hat/tip to TowleRoad